Departement Data Spaces and IoT-Solutions

The "Data Spaces and IoT Solutions" department develops new solutions for data spaces and IoT applications to enable IoT and data interoperability. This makes data accessible regardless of its original application and system reference and systems usable via standardised interfaces.

The existing and increasingly growing mass of data from databases, sensor and actuator systems has an enormous impact on IT systems and server architectures within and between companies and customers. Regardless of whether a company wants to use data for apps, analysis models, process optimisation or business model development, it must make it usable and accessible.

Our aim is to facilitate the integration and maintenance of mass data from different, often isolated systems. We enable the development of new applications, such as data-centred AI, and thus create economically valuable solutions in the company. Success no longer lies in functioning individual systems alone, but in the effective utilisation of data in the networked overall system.

To this end, the department utilises technologies such as knowledge graphs, solid data spaces and the Internet of Things (WoT). We pool our expertise in the research focus area "Seamless data exchange in value creation systems".

Applied research on knowledge graphs, data spaces and Web of Things for SMEs

 

  • We integrate data as knowledge graphs, standardising data sources, highlighting correlations and making data readable and interpretable - for humans and machines.
  • We design networked data spaces by using web technologies to make the data structured as knowledge graphs accessible (i.e. retrievable and writable). This gives companies uniform access to all relevant data, while decentralisation and the use of access authorisations guarantee the sovereignty of valuable company data.
  • We use Web of Things technologies to integrate data from sensors and actuators into knowledge graphs in an interoperable way and to control them.

 

Whether companies need advice, support with the development of applications (PoC, artefacts) or would like to acquire licences: This is where the Data Spaces and IoT Solutions department can provide support with its range of services in the field of data integration using semantic web technologies.

Enterprise Knowledge Graphs: Knowledge graphs for companies

Knowledge graphs form the basis for data spaces and WoT applications: Knowledge graphs link data from different sources to form a large data pool that also describes the relationships between data. This technology not only allows data to be integrated; such knowledge graphs also enable forward-looking analyses such as dependencies in supplier relationships for preliminary products.

Enterprise Solid Dataspace: Data spaces with Solid for companies

Solid technology can be used to create lightweight data spaces from different sources and formats. These spaces enable cross-company applications. Data sovereignty is guaranteed through decentralisation.

One example is the digital product passport, which contains data on each product, such as serial number, production line and date. Fitters can add information such as the installation date. End customers can also add data such as location and inventory number. A rights concept ensures that only certain roles have access to selected data.

Web of Things applications

On the way to Industry 4.0, SMEs need suitable software interfaces. These interfaces make it possible to read and process data automatically. Data exchange between systems is often difficult. One reason for this is the lack of standardisation.

IoT interoperability can be achieved with the Web of Things. During IoT retrofitting for the cost-saving modernisation of production systems, data from different sensors can be stored in a standardised format. Various protocols are used for this.

Research focus

The methodological skills and domain knowledge required for the design of data spaces and IoT solutions are currently being further developed in the following research focus area.

 

Research focus

Seamless data exchange in value-added systems

We simplify data interoperability between companies without having to give up data sovereignty. With knowledge graphs and decentralised data spaces, we enable holistic solutions for networked industrial systems and the interoperable network of tomorrow!